COMPANION 103:Your mission statement about making a difference in the lives of those around you. Why did you choose my profile?
MIDNIGHT LOVER:Your love of walking in the rain, fall leaves, and your statement that you’re ready to embrace and live life on your terms and not society’s. What does that mean to you exactly?
COMPANION 103:I’ve had my priorities aligned with the wrong goals for a while. Life is short, andwe don’t get second chances at it. There are so many mistakes that I wish I could undo, and I cannot. I’m ready to live my life to enjoy the rest of the time I’ve been given because tomorrow isn’t promised. I want every day to count.
MIDNIGHT LOVER:Have you been diagnosed with a terminal illness?
The screen wentblank for a moment, and the chat bubbles were no longer popping up. She wasn’t typing. I set my phone on my lap, crossed my leg over my knee, and rested my arms along the back of the couch.
I closed my eyes as I thought about the changes I would have to make. I was more than willing to let Kennedi have the house. I didn’t want to fight with her about another thing. Life was too short not to have peace. I wanted happiness, and if I could find that with my companion, then I was ready to jump ship and do that. I hadn’t been at first, but my heart was changing.
I didn’t want to waste another four years of my life with Kennedi, putting it on hold with her promises that we would be able to travel one day, and we could have kids someday. I wanted to start a family now and enjoy the time I had. At thirty-six, I knew full well that tomorrow wasn’t promised. Hell, my own father had died in prison at the ripe age of forty of a brain aneurysm. The fucked up part was that he was in jail for something he didn’t do, murder. He had murdered some people. That came with the territory of being in the game. He just didn’t do the one they accused him of. He’d been set up. It was for that reason that I decided to become a criminal defense attorney instead of a corporate one like I’d planned.
COMPANION 103:Sorry. No. I’m not dying. At least not to my knowledge. LOL. I had to read back what I wrote that gave you that impression. It’s just that I’ve experienced a lot of loss and sacrifice. I’m lonely, and I don’t want that for my future anymore. I want the big house, the white picket fence, two or three kids, and the dog . . . after the husband.
MIDNIGHT LOVER:You mean to tell me that you don’t want the 2.5 kids that everyone asks for? Like, what the hell is 2.5 kids? How the hell do you get half a kid out of the deal? Sounds like a raw one to me.
COMPANION 103:LOL! Exactly! I want all of my kids. LOL!
MIDNIGHT LOVER:Well, as much as I hate to say goodnight, I need to get up early in the morning. I’ve got a big day.
COMPANION 103:Same. I can’t wait until we can talk on the phone and fall asleep together. LOL! Forgive me. I sound like a teen.
MIDNIGHT LOVER:Guess I’m right there with you then. Because I feel the same way. Even better when we can fall asleep in the same space together.
COMPANION 103:Sigghh. You’re melting my heart, sir.
MIDNIGHT LOVER:Goodnight, beautiful.
COMPANION 103:You haven’t seen me yet.
MIDNIGHT LOVER:I don’t have to see you. I already know that you’re beautiful. You’ve got a beautiful soul.
COMPANION 103:You’re making all my dreams come true. Good night.
I clickedout of the chat and locked my phone. Guilt consumed me as I thought about my woman upstairs in bed. I was having an emotional affair on her, and she had no clue. But the way that Kennedi moved these days, I doubted that she would even care. That girl had cubes running through her veins; she was as cold as ice.
Chapter 7
Kenni
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4TH
Time dragged all week until the day of the event. Then it flew by. I’d caved and told Fiona about the invitation. She’d encouraged me to come to her apartment to get my makeup done and get dressed. I met up with Fiona at Mya’N Da Hair salon. We’d gotten our hair done and then had massages and facials at Salon Estime.
“I’m still mad that your fast ass didn’t tell me about it at the bar that night.”
“I know, Fi. It was just exciting, mysterious, and romantic all in one. I didn’t want to ruin the moment or the mystique around it.”
Fiona narrowed her eyes at me and twisted her lips.
“What?”
“You weren’t worried about ruining the moment,” she declared, pulling back from outlining my lips. I could have gotten my makeup done at Salon Estime, but Fiona was a beast when it came to makeup, and I didn’t trust just anyone with mine.
“Yes, I was.”
“Okay, maybe you were. But that wasn’t all. Your little ass probably thought you were imagining things because you were drunk as hell that night.”
